The Bengals have built an offense that can scare just about anybody. Joe Burrow is one of the league’s top quarterbacks, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins form the NFL’s best wide receiver duo, and defenses are usually stuck trying to choose their poison.
But when Cincinnati gets close to the goal line, that firepower has not translated the way it should.
That’s the strange part of this offense. A group this talented ought to be cashing in once it drives the field and gets into tight space near the end zone.
Instead, the Bengals sit 24th in the NFL in goal-to-go efficiency. The field shrinks inside the 10-yard line, sure, but that alone doesn’t explain why an offense with this much skill has had so much trouble finishing.
The numbers make the issue even sharper. Warren Sharp notes that 74% of all rushing touchdowns come from inside the 10-yard line, and 55% of all touchdowns happen in goal-to-go situations.
Those are the moments that decide whether a long drive ends with three points or seven. For Cincinnati, that gap has mattered too often.
Burrow’s own play hasn’t been the problem. Over the past five seasons, he has been the third-most accurate passer in goal-to-go situations.
Even with that kind of precision, the Bengals have managed only 26th in EPA per play at -0.06 and 17th in success rate at 44% in those spots. With a quarterback who can hit tight windows and receivers who can win quickly, this should be an area where Cincinnati creates advantages.
Instead, it has been a recurring weakness.
That matters even more if the Bengals are serious about a Super Bowl run. In the postseason, settling for chip-shot field goals is a losing formula against the NFL’s best teams. Cincinnati spent the offseason upgrading the roster and setting itself up for a deep playoff push, but those moves only go so far if the offense keeps leaving points behind.
Whether the defense improves or not, the Bengals have to turn more of those goal-to-go chances into touchdowns. If they end up in another season of shootouts, the difference between three and seven could be what decides how far they go.
In Other News...
This Bengals Rookie Could Change More Than Fans Realize At Camp
Colbie Young has barely gotten his footing in Bengals camp, but the rookie wideout is already part of a conversation Cincinnati has been trying to sort out behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The fourth-round pick arrived with a different kind of build and skill set than the receivers around him, and that alone has made him worth watching as the team starts to map out how its passing game might look once the top two options are accounted for.
The bigger question is how much room there really is for another pass catcher to carve out a real role. Andrei Iosivas has held the inside track in recent seasons, while Mike Gesicki has often functioned like a third wide receiver in the offense, giving Joe Burrow another steady target in the middle of the field. Young's camp performance will determine whether he can force his way into that mix and change the way Cincinnati distributes its snaps. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Suddenly Linked To A Surprising Next Step Fans Will Debate
The Bengals long playoff drought has already become a talking point inside the locker room, with Joe Burrow and JaMarr Chase both making clear they want the organization to move in a different direction. That frustration has only sharpened the scrutiny around Zac Taylor, whose future is starting to come up whenever Cincinnatis next step is discussed.
Nick Wright took that conversation in a far more unexpected direction on FS1s First Things First, tying the Bengals outlook to a coaching change that would send the fan base into a debate of its own. His scenario depends on Cincinnati missing the postseason again, and it reflects just how much pressure is building around a team that still has enough talent to expect more, but not enough recent results to quiet the questions. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Get Encouraging Sign In Crucial Battle Behind Ted Karras
The Bengals opened training camp with a little movement on the roster front, placing defensive lineman BJ Hill on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform list. But the more interesting development for Cincinnati may be happening on the offensive line, where the backup center job behind Ted Karras is already drawing attention as the team sorts through its rookie options.
Connor Lew is expected to start taking reps there, while Brian Parker has also been working at center after getting those looks during rookie minicamp. Parker will be in the mix for playing time once camp gets rolling, and for a Bengals team that values depth up front, the competition behind Karras is one of the quieter battles worth watching. [Read more 🡒]